"When The Man Comes Around"

[Manonfire63]

Was Johnny Cash Prophetic?  Johnny Cash originally wanted to sing Gospel Music. He received a degree in divinity. He has some songs that play on spiritual themes.  God is reason. One of the first steps I took down that journey was working to understand the lyrics of "When the Man Comes Around." This is a Bible Study. I won't completely break down the song, but I will show you some interesting things I have found.

Johnny Cash “The_Man_Comes Around”

And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder:
One of the four beasts saying: "Come and see."
And I saw.
And behold, a white horse.

There's a man goin' 'round takin' names.
An' he decides who to free and who to blame.
Everybody won't be treated all the same.
There'll be a golden ladder reaching down.

When the man comes around.
The hairs on your arm will stand up.
At the terror in each sip and in each sup.
Will you partake of that last offered cup,
Or disappear into the potter's ground.
When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha and Omega's Kingdom come.
And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.

The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Till Armageddon, no Shalam, no Shalom.
Then the father hen will call his chickens home.
The wise men will bow down before the throne.
And at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns.
When the man comes around.

Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still.
Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still.
Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still.
Listen to the words long written down,
When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In measured hundredweight and penny pound.
When the man comes around.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts,
And I looked and behold: a pale horse.
And his name, that sat on him, was Death.
And Hell followed with him.

What is a White Horse? A White Horse would be a conqueror. I saw that White Horse could be taken to be Male Thumos. Articles:

"Got Thumos?"  The Art of Manliness


"Thumos in The BIble"  Paul Coughlin

God has a righteous Anger. It burns. Someone full of God's Spirit may be able to feel his anger. A White Horse is a conqueror. When you were a child, and in school, did you ever see a boy who had to be first at everything? That is Thumos. He wants to win and be first. Your body is a temple. Jesus lives inside of you. Someone with God's Spirit learns to tune his thumos through trials. (James 1:2-4) The little boy that had to be first at everything learns patience and how to compete and play well with others. He reigns in his Thumos and learns how to apply it well with God.

Is someone a Dark Horse Katy Perry or more of a White Horse like King David, Jesus Christ, or Apostle Paul?

Who is The Man? The Man Coming Around would be Jesus? Jesus Christ is the Man. (1 Timothy 2:5) Jesus is in heaven. How could Jesus be on the Earth walking around? Your Body is a Temple. Jesus lives inside of you. Could The Man be a Prophetic character who serves Jesus Christ; a Bond Servant of Christ?

• Or disappear into the potter's ground.

"Or disappear into the potter's ground" is a really savage lyric. Judas hung himself in the Potter's Ground after betraying Jesus Christ. Given The Man Comes Around, some people who have been working against Jesus Christ and God's Kingdom may recognize their betrayal and wish to kill themselves?

• It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Mankind is like God's Vineyard. There are a lot of allegories or Metaphors in the Bible for farming. In Luke 20:9-19, Mankind is like God's Vineyard.

The part of the plow, the part that touches the ground and turns up earth, is the pricks or the goad. A farmer plows often in straight lines. It is hard to kick against the pricks. Jesus Christ is a farmer. During his ministry on Earth, he was sowing seeds. He planted seeds and it took some time for them to grow and mature. Someone working against Jesus Christ would be trying to kick against the pricks? Saul on his way to Damascus is confronted by Christ. "'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'" (Acts 26:14)

That is what I have for now. I found breaking down the song, and working to understand the lyrics to be a fun Bible Study. It also helped bring me closer to God and mature in understanding of God and Spiritual things.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Manonfire63

[Heart2Soul]

Johnny Cash was not a prophet just a man who had a repentant heart for God....this song is scripture put into a song.

[Manonfire63]

48 minutes ago, Heart2Soul said:

Johnny Cash was not a prophet just a man who had a repentant heart for God....this song is scripture put into a song.

There is a difference between being a Prophet, and having The Gift of Prophecy.  A 5 year old girl may have the Gift of Prophecy.  A Pastor may have the Gift of Prophecy.  A Church Elder may have the Gift of Prophecy.  A Prophet has a function or role to play. 

The focus here is more on if the song is Prophetic. 

Another factor here may also be "The Power of the Tongue."  Link: http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/tongue/index.htm 

When someone invokes various religious imagery it is coming from some Spirit? 

Edited May 9, 2018 by Manonfire63

[Heart2Soul]

Just now, Manonfire63 said:

There is a difference between being a Prophet, and having The Gift of Prophecy.  A 5 year old girl may have the Gifts of Prophecy.  A Pastor may have the Gift of Prophecy.  A Church Elder may have the Gift of Prophecy.  A Prophet has a function or role to play. 

The focus here is more on if the song is Prophetic. 

Another factor here may also be "The Power of the Tongue.  Link: http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/tongue/index.htm 

When someone invokes various religious imagery it is coming from some Spirit? 

I do know the difference....I have gone through great depth with others on another forum over the difference but anyway, back to this.....so what have you seen in this song that you have found to be very interesting.

[Heart2Soul]

And BTW....I have read your blogs on that other forum....

[Manonfire63]

God is reason.  There is a link between reason and faith.  Breaking down the lyrics of "When the Man Comes Around" was a big jump start into picking up Biblical reasoning for me. 

What I have seen is that whenever someone invokes some sort of religious imagery in song or lyric, it may be significant.  Johnny Cash may have been religious.  On another side it could be that Lucifer was known as an Angel of Light and he works to steal things.  The day of The Lord comes as a thief in the night. Another aspect may be "God will not be mocked, and your reap what you sow." 

In general, any time someone invokes particular religious imagery, there may be something to it spiritually. 


 

Edited May 9, 2018 by Manonfire63

[BeyondET]

His making a list, His checking it twice, seeing who's been naughty or nice.

[BeyondET]

God inspires many to write.